Stories on Purpose

Paige Doughty has spent over 20 years performing for children across Colorado as one half of the beloved science and nature musical duo, Jeff and Paige. What began as small local performances has grown into a nonprofit dedicated to helping children fall in love with the natural world. Their latest endeavor, Rainbow Socks, is a live-action children's television series set to release this year. But Paige's connection to nature runs deeper than the stage; it has been a guiding force in her own journey toward wholeness.In this episode, Paige shares how her path from a serious eating disorder at age 14 to becoming a spiritual teacher and coach has been shaped by curiosity, authenticity, and a deep listening to her soul's true calling. She reflects on what true recovery really means, why self-actualization is available to everyone, and how the same wisdom she brings to children about the natural world has helped her untangle the knots of her own story. She is also writing her first memoir, Unwinding Myself Whole, which promises to be a powerful tool for anyone on a path toward healing.To learn more about Paige Doughty:Website: https://www.paigedoughty.com/Jeff & Paige: https://www.jeffandpaige.org/Subscribe: www.paigedoughty.com/subscribeTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

In this solo episode, I share the experience of losing both parents to terminal illness at nearly the same time during the darkest time of my life. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia, my mother with ALS. They were divorced, living in Montreal while I was in Colorado, and the losses unfolded slowly, in layers, over several years. What I came to understand is that death rarely arrives in a single moment. Long before either of my parents passed, I had already been grieving.This episode explores grief in a way that I hope feels honest and useful — not as a linear process with a clear beginning and end, but as something far more complex that shifts our sense of identity and meaning. I reflect on the difference between loss and grief, on what it means to mourn someone who is still alive, and on the profound beauty that can exist even in the hardest of goodbyes. I am recording this on the anniversary of my mother's death, and I offer this story in the hope that it meets you wherever you are in your own journey.To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Veronica Olalla Love was born in Argentina in 1976, just weeks after a military coup, to a family who had already fled another coup in Chile. Her mother shielded her children from gunfire in the streets. Her father became a pioneer in transformational coaching, giving Veronica a front-row seat to the power of story and human connection at the age of twelve. These experiences did not leave her broken. They gave her a mission.In this conversation, Veronica shares how the trauma stored in her earliest memories became the foundation for a life devoted to teaching others to truly see and hear one another. She reflects on why she believes every human is fundamentally whole, and how listening deeply enough to another person can turn any conversation into a portal to our shared humanity.This is a story about what becomes possible when violence does not get the last word, and when one person chooses, again and again, to respond to the world with love.To learn more about Veronica Olalla Love:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-love-m-ac-dipl-ac-pcc-19152394/Website: https://newfieldnetwork.com/Art: https://www.veronicalove.net/To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

What happens when a hyper-achiever tries to master meditation in ten days? For me, it ended with violently throwing up in front of a hundred silent meditators and carrying that trauma for years. But that embarrassing failure became the doorway to the practice that has transformed my life more than anything else.In this solo episode, I share my winding journey with meditation, from that disastrous ten-day silent retreat where I tried to be the "best meditator in the room," to finding a teacher who helped me begin again by telling me, “Don’t meditate.” I open up about how meditation helped me stop worrying obsessively about workplace conversations, taught me to trust my body's intelligence, and eventually led to a spiritual awakening during COVID that shifted how I see everything, even pain itself.To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

At the age of 12, James Davis-Massey made one of the most difficult decisions of his life: he stood before a court and divorced his parents. It was a soulful decision, one that defied logic and wasn't driven by what his head or even his heart told him, but by a deeper knowing that he needed to move toward safety and love. Growing up in an environment marked by abuse, alcoholism, and neglect, James knew deep within himself that he needed safety and love, even if it meant making an extraordinary choice that most children never face.That moment of soulful decision-making became the foundation for who James is today. He moved in with his grandparents, and heard his grandmother's words, "James, you can be and do anything you want to be and do," which became a guiding light that he carries with him to this day. James developed a fierce independence. By age 14, he was working nearly full-time to support himself. While this responsibility forced him to grow up quickly, it also gave him the resilience and grit that would shape his future.Now, James is the co-founder of The Human Blueprint, where he helps leaders, executives, teams, and organizations understand the power of human-centered leadership. His approach integrates the five dimensions of a leader—head, heart, gut, body, and soul—to help people align with their higher purpose and become their most powerful, influential, and fulfilled selves. From his early trauma to his work today, James's journey is a testament to the transformative power of making soulful decisions and serving others from a place of deep authenticity.To learn more about James Davis-Massey:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavis2/Website: https://www.thehumanblueprint.com/To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Aaron Simmons met his wife, Polly, in the Peace Corps, and together they built a life filled with art, literature, and deep partnership. They married, bought a house, and had three children. Then, three years ago, Polly died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism, leaving Aaron to navigate life as a solo father and to wrestle with unanswerable questions.In the midst of his grief, Aaron discovered Polly's journals—pages and pages of her thoughts, insights, and humor written over the years. As he began writing through his own pain in the middle of the night, an idea emerged: what if they could write a book together, even after her death?In this conversation, Aaron shares how he's keeping Polly present for his children, how writing became both his healing and their collaboration, and why he believes grief never truly resolves—it simply becomes part of who we are. He reflects on the tension between moving forward and honoring what was lost, and offers wisdom for anyone sitting with loss they didn't choose.This is a story about creating beauty from loss, honoring the dead by living fully, and understanding that healing isn't linear—it's a mosaic.To Learn more about Aaron Simmons:Website: aaronsimmons.nameTo Buy the book widow— widower— widowest— a grief mosaicBook website: widowest.comPublisher website: www.motinabooks.com/book/widow-widower-widowest/Amazon:www.amazon.com/-/he/Aaron-Simmons-ebook/dp/B0FZ5HZZRMTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

What happens when the life you've known is taken from you in an instant? For Tricia Downing, a competitive cyclist, that moment came on September 17, 2000, when she was hit head-on by a car and paralyzed from the chest down.But Tricia's story isn't just about a life-changing accident. It's about the resilience she built long before that day, as a biracial adoptee growing up in a white family, navigating a world where she never quite fit in, always standing out.When her injury added another layer to her identity, Tricia had a choice: let it define her, or use it as fuel. Just five months after leaving the hospital, she completed a half-marathon in a racing wheelchair. She went on to become a Paralympian, the first female paraplegic to complete an Ironman triathlon, and a powerful advocate for disability inclusion.In this conversation, Tricia shares how being different, again and again, taught her not just to survive, but to lead. She reflects on the gift hidden in adversity and why she believes we're not here for ourselves, but to impact others.This is a story about transformation, acceptance, and discovering that sometimes standing out is exactly what the world needs.Learn more about Tricia Downing:Website: https://triciadowning.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciadowning/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricialdowning/Substack, The Semantics of Adoption: https://share.google/MA7xlTamUs9o1evklTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

In this deeply personal solo episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his journey through what he calls an "addiction to adrenaline", a pattern of seeking dangerous experiences that masked deeper pain from loneliness and depression. From triggering avalanches in the Canadian Rockies to two catastrophic cycling accidents, Stan reveals how extreme sports became his way of feeling alive and connected to others.This isn’t just a story about adventure gone wrong, but one of transformation, self-awareness, and the power of inner work. Stan contrasts his two major cycling accidents, one before his meditation practice, when he was angry and difficult during recovery, and one after years of therapy and meditation, when he experienced compassion and even moments of bliss despite severe injuries.To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

In this heartfelt conversation, Lyssa deHart shares her journey from running away from love to becoming the person who could truly receive it. Through self-awareness, courage, and deep inner work, she learned to release old patterns that once kept her safe but isolated. Lyssa opens up about moving beyond the need to be liked, to genuinely liking others, and herself, in return.Together, Lyssa and host Stan Ajemian explore how our earliest experiences shape how we show up in relationships, and how Lyssa’s deeper understanding of both men and herself led to her marriage of 27 years. This episode invites listeners to reflect on the difference between chasing love and allowing it, and how becoming whole within ourselves lays the foundation for mutual, authentic relationships.Learn more about Lyssa deHart:Website: https://lyssadehart.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssadehart/Books: https://lyssadehart.com/books/Coaching Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-coaching-studio-with-lyssa-dehart/id1581009320To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Welcome to Stories on Purpose. I’m your host, Stan Ajemian.This is a podcast about the moments that change us—the stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation that shape who we are and why we do what we do.Every two to three weeks, I release a new episode, usually around 30 to 60 minutes long. Most of the time, you’ll hear me in conversation with remarkable guests who share their journeys of finding meaning through struggle. And every so often, I’ll share my own reflections in solo episodes.My hope is that these stories don’t just inspire you, but also invite you to reflect on your own path—how the challenges you’ve faced might hold the seeds of growth, purpose, and even joy.So if you’re curious about how people find strength in the hardest places, and how we can all live more intentionally, I invite you to listen in.Stories on Purpose—because your story matters.

Most people view cancer as a devastating diagnosis. For Steve Staruch, it was something he met with curiosity and an unwavering belief that he would survive. He credits the steadfast support of the people around him as a vital part of his healing journey.In this episode, Steve, well known as a beloved classical music radio host, shares how he faced cancer while continuing to embrace life with joy and gratitude. He reflects on the ways music, faith, and community became sources of strength, and how leaning into beauty allowed him to thrive even in difficult times.To hear Steve Staruch on the radio:In the Twin Cities of Minnesota, tune into 99.5 FMStream online at: yourclassicalmpr.orgTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Sebastian Merz grew up in Germany, where the people continue to carry the reality of a dark past that has never been fully reconciled. His search for peace within his family and culture eventually led him to Canada, where he now serves as a government negotiator on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, while also guiding his coaching clients through their own transformations.In this episode, Sebastian speaks candidly about the pain he carries from his German ancestry and the parallels he sees in the struggles of reconciliation with Indigenous communities. He reflects on the tension between his natural harmonizing nature and the need for healthy confrontation to be more effective as both a negotiator and a coach.At one point in the conversation, host Stan Ajemian pauses to recall the ancestral tribes that inhabited the area known as Denver, Colorado. This was the ancestral homeland for the Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne peoples.Sebastian’s story reminds us that reconciliation is never just cultural or historical, but deeply personal, and invites each of us to consider where repair is needed in our own lives.Learn more about Sebastian Merz:Website: https://Fierce-Heart.Co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-merz-51582828/To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Eric Davis was a professional alpine skier, on track for the Olympics or the World Cup circuit. Then, at just 22, he was diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The illnesses and the powerful medications prescribed to treat them pushed his body to the edge, and at one point, nearly took his life.That near-death moment became a profound awakening. Eric recalls feeling separate from his body and from the person he had always known himself to be. In that moment, something shifted. Against all odds, he experienced a spontaneous remission of his autoimmune illnesses.For the past 15 years, Eric has been on a quest to understand not only what led to his illness and his recovery, but also the deeper mysteries of healing and consciousness itself. His story is raw, inspiring, and deeply human. My hope is that you’ll find insights here to guide your own journey without having to endure what Eric went through.To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Elias Scultori began his career as a classical musician in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was later invited to perform in another musical capital, New York City, appearing on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.Despite similarities between these two international cities, Elias shares the challenges he faced in adapting to the culture of the United States. He reflects on how a shift in language and environment creates entirely new ways of seeing the world, and of being.He speaks beautifully about how uncomfortable moments, though often unwelcome, are powerful opportunities for growth. In contrast, comfort can lead to a fixed mindset. Rather than resisting discomfort, Elias invites us to meet it with curiosity and ask what it has to teach us. He shares how a difficult breakup and a move to Florida became fuel for his insights in claiming his proper place in the world.As a musician, Elias was drawn to group collaboration over solo performance, which was rooted in his core values of community and growth. Now a Master Certified Coach and coach educator, he channels those same values to support individuals, teams, and organizations in building connection and expanding their potential.Learn more about Elias Scultori:Website: https://www.eliasscultori.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/Coach Training: https://www.primecoachingacademy.com/Coaching Podcast: https://www.primecoachingacademy.com/podcasts/prime-spaceTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

At age 17, Tony Latimer was the first on the scene of a major car crash and made a life-threatening decision that would shape the rest of his life. Earlier in his life, his uncle had given him the advice, “Help anyone, hurt no one,” and “You never want to get to the end, when it’s too late, and look back and say, if only I had…” He also observed the big and stable Catholic Church change its mind on issues, from which he learned that he could challenge anything.These lessons gave him the courage to make bold moves in his life and draw on an inner strength to act as though failure is not an option. This showed up in his move to the other side of the planet, and his creation of a leadership coaching business that was the basis of his development of his coach training program.When he had to make a similar life-threatening decision for a second time earlier this year, he noticed how much his fear had diminished and that making courageous decisions is just normal for him now.Learn more about Tony Latimer’s work:Website: ProfitableLeadership.comCoach Training: profitableleadership.com/simplicityofmasteryTony Latimer AI Tool: tonylatimer.aiTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: beingthechangecoaching.com

Jonathan Reitz grew up hearing the message that he’s worthless and not likely to amount to much, even when he somehow knew he was capable. The message and the disconnect of it led to depression, which, when combined with his addictive personality, led to years of alcoholism. Through acceptance of himself and deep inner work, he overcame his depression, and he used his addictive personality to drive a career through radio and television to become a leader in the coaching community.More recently, he was diagnosed with ADHD and learned to embrace his divergent thinking that prevents him from staying focused on something for very long, but gives him the ability to solve big challenges creatively.Through therapy, input from people around him, and self-reflection, he lives a life driven by his values: generosity, investment, catalyzing, hope, and uniqueness.Learn more about Jonathan Reitz’ work:LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/jonathanreitz/Website:  jonathanreitz.comFLUXIFY:  fluxify.netWeatherhead School of Management:  weatherhead.case.edu/executive-education/subjects/weatherhead-coach-educationTo learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.comBelow is a list of values, beliefs, or personal characteristics for your consideration. Each of the steps in this process will help you identify which are most important to you and which are guiding principles in your life. It is difficult to choose, of course, because many of these values and characteristics will be at least somewhat important to you. It is also hard to choose because you might find yourself thinking, “I should value X and put it first on my list,” even though it really isn’t. So, force yourself to choose, and choose based on your true feelings, not the “shoulds” in life.You might find it useful to determine degrees of importance by imagining how you would feel if you were forced to give up believing in or acting on a particular value, belief, or personal characteristic. Or, think about how you would feel if your life really revolved around certain values, beliefs, or characteristics. How would this make you feel? Sometimes, you might find it helpful to consider two values at a time, asking yourself if about the relative importance for one over the other.Start by circling the fifteen or so values that are most important to you.Then, from this list, identify the ten that are most important to you and write them in a list.From this list of ten, circle the five that are the most important to you.List of Values, Beliefs, or Desirable Personal Characteristics:AccomplishmentAchievementAdventureAffectionAffectionateAffiliationAmbitiousAssisting othersAuthorityAutonomyBeautyBelongingBroad-mindedCaringChallengeCheerfulCleanComfortable lifeCompanionshipCompassionCompetentCompetitivenessContribution to othersConformityContentednessControlCooperationCourageousCourteousCreativityDependableDisciplinedEconomic SecurityEffectiveEqualityExcitementFameFamily happinessFamily securityForgivingFree choiceFreedomFriendshipFunGenuinenessHappinessHealthHelpfulnessHonestyHopeIndependenceImproving SocietyInnovativeIntegrityIntellectualInvolvementImaginationJoyLeisurelyLogicalLoveLovingMature LoveNational SecurityNatureObedientOrderPeacePersonal DevelopmentPleasurePolitePowerPrideRationalRecognitionReliableReligionRespectfulResponsibleRestrainedSalvationSelf-controlledSelf-relianceSelf-respectSinceritySpiritualityStabilityStatusSuccessSymbolicTaking RisksTeamworkTidyTenderTranquilityWealthWinningWisdomOthers:10 Most Important Values:Finally, rank each of your five most important values, beliefs, or characteristics, with “1” being the most important value to you, to “5” being the least important of these five important values.McKee, A., Boyatzis, R. E., & Johnston, F. (2008) Becoming a resonant leader. Harvard Business Press

In this episode, Stan Ajemian interviewed Paul Boehnke, who spent 30 years as a classical musician, and through self-discovery, realized that his love of being an artist lay as much in the inner work as in his love of his instrument, and his desire to share his insights with his students and the world led him to a career in coaching.Learn more about Paul Boehnke’s work:Website: https://paulboehnke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innercriticcoach Thoughts on Demand book: https://thoughtsondemand.org/ To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: www.beingthechangecoaching.com

In this premiere episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and reinvention. From a near-fatal accident to the collapse of his marriage and career, Stan reflects on how inner work led him to a develop radical acceptance and gratitude, which led to his new purpose in coaching. A story of transformation, growth, and discovering strength on the other side of struggle.Click Here for the TranscriptStanLet’s connect:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: [email protected]: www.beingthechangecoaching.com